Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Mar 2: After the excise department officials came down heavily on the initiatives undertaken by some police officers to register large number of cases against people for storing liquor at their homes although it was within limits prescribed by law, the office of the director general of police (DGP) here recently issued an order to the effect that no police cases can be registered if liquor found stored inside residences is within the prescribed limit.

Under Karnataka Excise (possession, transport, import and export of intoxicants) rules, 1967, individuals can hold liquor as stated below in their houses even without possessing any licences.

Neera (specified districts) 2.5 litres, Desi beer 18.2 L, brandy, whiskey or gin (not imported) 2.3 L, imported foreign liquor - 9.1 L, processed wine - 4.5 L, and fruit wine - 9 litres.

The excise department was distressed at the fact that large number of cases were being registered in cities and towns by police, for storing liquor in excess of limits prescribed in excise rules. The fresh order issued on behalf of the DGP has removed this risk, and the people can now hold liquor within the limits and consume it at their will. It is said that even when the excise department mentioned that the issue of liquor pertains to them, and individuals have the right to store limited liquor at their houses, local police used to register cases. This had discouraged people from holding any liquor at their homes as it involves risk of getting booked.

In the excise commissioner's meeting held last month, district excise deputy commissioners had raised the topic of large number of police cases relating to liquor, and sought strict instructions to police inspectors and sub-inspectors to strictly abide by the rules and not to register cases unnecessarily. The excise commissioner had thereafter written to the government, after which the office of the DGP came out with the said order.

The individuals need to make sure that the liquor held by them is within the limits prescribed in the excise rules. Because holding excessive amounts of liquor exposes them to the risk of being considered as having committed serious crime which can put them behind bars up to five years and fined up to Rs 20,000.

Excise commissioner, Manjunath Nayak, stated that the district excise deputy commissioners had brought to his notice the issue of raids on the houses of people who hold less than prescribed quantity of liquor. "Therefore, we wrote to the DGP to instruct police officers properly, after which the said directions were issued," he added.

The order, issued on behalf of the DGP by additional inspector general of police, R Dileep, mentions that the additional chief secretary in the internal administration department has drawn the attention of DGP about the unnecessary filing of liquor cases against individuals which results in loss of revenue to the government. The letter from the department had asked DGP to provide suitable instruction and guidance on the subject to all officers under him.